U.S. patent application number 16/293158 was filed with the patent office on 2019-09-12 for authorization management of elevator service request.
The applicant listed for this patent is Otis Elevator Company. Invention is credited to Kai Li, Siqi Ma, Shenhong Wang, Yang Yang, Yu Zhang.
Application Number | 20190276275 16/293158 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65724215 |
Filed Date | 2019-09-12 |
![](/patent/app/20190276275/US20190276275A1-20190912-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20190276275/US20190276275A1-20190912-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20190276275/US20190276275A1-20190912-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20190276275/US20190276275A1-20190912-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20190276275/US20190276275A1-20190912-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20190276275/US20190276275A1-20190912-D00005.png)
![](/patent/app/20190276275/US20190276275A1-20190912-P00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20190276275/US20190276275A1-20190912-P00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20190276275/US20190276275A1-20190912-P00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20190276275/US20190276275A1-20190912-P00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20190276275/US20190276275A1-20190912-P00005.png)
View All Diagrams
United States Patent
Application |
20190276275 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yang; Yang ; et al. |
September 12, 2019 |
AUTHORIZATION MANAGEMENT OF ELEVATOR SERVICE REQUEST
Abstract
The present invention relates to authorization management for an
elevator service request, and belongs to the field of elevator
management technologies. An authorization management apparatus for
an elevator service request according to the present invention
comprises: a receiving unit configured to receive authorization
request information from a personal mobile terminal; a selecting
unit configured to select an authorization mode from at least two
of three authorization modes; and an authorization management unit
configured to determine, at least based on the selected
authorization mode, whether the authorization request information
from the personal mobile terminal is allowed to be authorized. In
the present invention, the authorization management can be
implemented flexibly and conveniently.
Inventors: |
Yang; Yang; (Shanghai,
CN) ; Zhang; Yu; (Shanghai, CN) ; Li; Kai;
(Shanghai, CN) ; Ma; Siqi; (Shanghai, CN) ;
Wang; Shenhong; (Shanghai, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Otis Elevator Company |
Farmington |
CT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
65724215 |
Appl. No.: |
16/293158 |
Filed: |
March 5, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B66B 2201/4676 20130101;
B66B 2201/4653 20130101; B66B 5/0087 20130101; B66B 1/3453
20130101; B66B 1/468 20130101; B66B 2201/4615 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B66B 5/00 20060101
B66B005/00; B66B 1/34 20060101 B66B001/34 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 6, 2018 |
CN |
201810183964.2 |
Claims
1. An authorization management apparatus for an elevator service
request, comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive
authorization request information from one or more personal mobile
terminals; a selecting unit configured to select an authorization
mode from at least two of the following three authorization modes:
(a) fully auto-allowed authorization or fully auto-forbidden
authorization, (b) auto-allowed authorization or auto-forbidden
authorization in batches, and (c) allowed authorization or
forbidden authorization fully based on manual input; and an
authorization management unit configured to determine, at least
based on the selected authorization mode, whether the authorization
request information from the personal mobile terminal is allowed to
be authorized.
2. The authorization management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
authorization request information comprises an elevator identifier
of a corresponding elevator of an elevator system acquired by the
corresponding personal mobile terminal and a terminal identifier of
the personal mobile terminal mapped to the elevator identifier.
3. The authorization management apparatus of claim 2, wherein the
authorization management unit is further configured to determine,
at least also based on a mapping relationship between the elevator
identifier and the terminal identifier in the authorization request
information, whether the authorization request information from the
corresponding personal mobile terminal is allowed to be
authorized.
4. The authorization management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
selecting unit is further configured to select a corresponding
authorization mode for different elevators or different elevator
systems or different elevator groups.
5. The authorization management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
selecting unit is further configured to acquire a list of first
terminal identifiers of personal mobile terminals for allowing
authorization automatically in batches and/or a list of second
terminal identifiers of personal mobile terminals for forbidding
authorization automatically in batches when the authorization mode
(b) is selected.
6. The authorization management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
authorization management apparatus is deployed in a property
management system of a building where the managed elevator system
is located.
7. The authorization management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
authorization management unit is further configured to display
multiple pieces of the authorization request information in a list
form when it is determined based on the selected authorization mode
(c) whether the authorization request information is allowed to be
authorized.
8. The authorization management apparatus of claim 7, wherein the
list comprises an authorization operation column having an icon
that is set corresponding to each piece of authorization request
information and capable of being clicked or activated by the manual
input.
9. The authorization management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
authorization management unit is further configured to: when the
authorization request information of the personal mobile terminal
corresponding to an elevator in an elevator group is allowed to be
authorized, allow authorizing the personal mobile terminal to send
an elevator service request command to another elevator in the
elevator group.
10. The authorization management apparatus of claim 2, wherein the
authorization request information further comprises identity
credential information of a passenger and/or a floor requested to
be authorized.
11. An authorization management method for an elevator service
request, comprising steps of: receiving authorization request
information from one or more personal mobile terminals; selecting
an authorization mode from at least two of the following three
authorization modes: (a) fully auto-allowed authorization or fully
auto-forbidden authorization, (b) auto-allowed authorization or
auto-forbidden authorization in batches, and (c) allowed
authorization or forbidden authorization fully based on manual
input; and determining, at least based on the selected
authorization mode, whether the authorization request information
from the personal mobile terminal is allowed to be authorized.
12. The authorization management method of claim 11, wherein the
authorization request information comprises an elevator identifier
of a corresponding elevator of an elevator system acquired by the
corresponding personal mobile terminal and a terminal identifier of
the personal mobile terminal mapped to the elevator identifier.
13. The authorization management method of claim 12, wherein in the
determination step, it is determined at least also based on a
mapping relationship between the elevator identifier and the
terminal identifier in the authorization request information
whether the authorization request information from the
corresponding personal mobile terminal is allowed to be
authorized.
14. The authorization management method of claim 11, wherein in the
selection step, a corresponding authorization mode is selected for
different elevators or different elevator systems or different
elevator groups.
15. The authorization management method of claim 14, wherein in the
selection step, if the elevator or elevator system or elevator
group has no access restriction, fully auto-allowed authorization
in the authorization mode (a) is selected; or if the elevator or
elevator system or elevator group has an access-forbidden
restriction in a current time period, fully auto-forbidden
authorization in the authorization mode (a) is selected.
16. The authorization management method of claim 14, wherein in the
selection step, if the elevator or elevator system or elevator
group has no access restriction for a predefined personal mobile
terminal for which authorization is allowed automatically,
auto-allowed authorization in batches in the authorization mode (b)
is selected; or if the elevator or elevator system or elevator
group has an access-forbidden restriction for a predefined personal
mobile terminal for which authorization is forbidden automatically,
auto-forbidden authorization in the authorization mode (b) is
selected.
17. The authorization management method of claim 14, wherein in the
selection step, if the elevator or elevator system or elevator
group needs to have an access restriction for each personal mobile
terminal, the authorization mode (c) is selected.
18. The authorization management method of claim 11, wherein in the
selection step, when the authorization mode (b) is selected, a list
of first terminal identifiers of personal mobile terminals for
allowing authorization automatically in batches and/or a list of
second terminal identifiers of personal mobile terminals for
forbidding authorization automatically in batches are/is
acquired.
19. The authorization management method of claim 11, wherein in the
determination step, multiple pieces of the authorization request
information are displayed in a list form when it is determined
based on the selected authorization mode (c) whether the
authorization request information is allowed to be authorized.
20. The authorization management method of claim 19, wherein the
list comprises an authorization operation column having an icon
that is set corresponding to each piece of authorization request
information and capable of being clicked or activated by the manual
input.
21. The authorization management method of claim 11, wherein after
it is determined based on the authorization mode (a) or the
authorization mode (b) whether the authorization request
information is allowed to be authorized, the selection step is
continued to select the authorization mode (c), and at least part
of the authorization request information determined based on the
authorization mode (a) or the authorization mode (b) is updated
based on the selected authorization mode (c) to determine whether
the at least part of the authorization request information is
allowed to be authorized.
22. The authorization management method of claim 11, further
comprising a step of: when the authorization request information of
the personal mobile terminal corresponding to an elevator in an
elevator group is allowed to be authorized, allowing authorizing
the personal mobile terminal to send an elevator service request
command to another elevator in the elevator group.
23. The authorization management method of claim 12, wherein the
elevator identifier is a QR code or barcode.
24. The authorization management method of claim 12, wherein the
terminal identifier is a communication number, a unique
identification code of the personal mobile terminal or an ID of a
passenger using the personal mobile terminal.
25. The authorization management method of claim 12, wherein the
authorization request information further comprises identity
credential information of a passenger and/or a floor requested to
be authorized.
26. A computer apparatus, comprising a memory, a processor, and a
computer program stored in the memory and operable in the
processor, wherein when the program is executed by the processor,
the steps of the authorization management method of claim 11 are
implemented.
27. A computer readable storage medium, storing a computer program
thereon, wherein the program is executed by a processor to
implement the steps of the authorization management method of claim
11.
28. An elevator management system, for managing a personal mobile
terminal configured to send an elevator service request command
automatically, wherein the elevator management system comprises the
authorization management apparatus of claim 1.
29. The elevator management system of claim 28, wherein the
personal mobile terminal comprises: an acquiring unit configured to
acquire an elevator identifier of a corresponding elevator of an
elevator system; and an authorization request generating and
sending unit configured to generate and send authorization request
information, wherein the authorization request information
comprises the acquired elevator identifier and a terminal
identifier of the personal mobile terminal mapped to the elevator
identifier.
Description
FOREIGN PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent
Application No. 201810183964.2, filed Mar. 6, 2018, and all the
benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119, the
contents of which in its entirety are herein incorporated by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention belongs to the field of elevator
management technologies, and relates to authorization management
for an elevator service request from a personal mobile terminal,
and in particular, to an authorization management apparatus and
method for an elevator service request and an elevator management
system using the personal mobile terminal and the authorization
management apparatus.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] With the development of elevator technologies, various
technologies for implementing an elevator service request operation
automatically through a personal mobile terminal such as a smart
phone have emerged. For facilitating the elevator management,
however, not every passenger has the permission to send an elevator
service request command to an elevator system through a personal
mobile terminal Generally, only an authorized personal mobile
terminal can send an elevator service request command to an
elevator system.
[0004] Currently, access permissions to an elevator system or a
specific elevator are granted to passengers one by one by a manager
face to face. An access credential, such as a PVC card, having the
access permission to a corresponding elevator is issued to an
authorized passenger.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an
authorization management apparatus for an elevator service request
is provided, comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive
authorization request information from one or more personal mobile
terminals; a selecting unit configured to select an authorization
mode from at least two of the following three authorization modes:
(a) fully auto-allowed authorization or fully auto-forbidden
authorization, (b) auto-allowed authorization or auto-forbidden
authorization in batches, and (c) allowed authorization or
forbidden authorization fully based on manual input; and an
authorization management unit configured to determine, at least
based on the selected authorization mode, whether the authorization
request information from the personal mobile terminal is allowed to
be authorized.
[0006] In the authorization management apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the authorization request
information includes an elevator identifier of a corresponding
elevator of an elevator system acquired by the corresponding
personal mobile terminal and a terminal identifier of the personal
mobile terminal mapped to the elevator identifier.
[0007] In the authorization management apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the authorization management
unit is further configured to determine, at least also based on a
mapping relationship between the elevator identifier and the
terminal identifier in the authorization request information,
whether the authorization request information from the
corresponding personal mobile terminal is allowed to be
authorized.
[0008] In the authorization management apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the selecting unit is further
configured to select a corresponding authorization mode for
different elevators or different elevator systems or different
elevator groups.
[0009] In the authorization management apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the selecting unit is further
configured to acquire a list of first terminal identifiers of
personal mobile terminals for allowing authorization automatically
in batches and/or a list of second terminal identifiers of personal
mobile terminals for forbidding authorization automatically in
batches when the authorization mode (b) is selected.
[0010] In the authorization management apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the authorization management
apparatus is deployed in a property management system of a building
where the managed elevator system is located.
[0011] In the authorization management apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the authorization management
unit is further configured to display multiple pieces of the
authorization request information in a list form when it is
determined based on the selected authorization mode (c) whether the
authorization request information is allowed to be authorized.
[0012] In the authorization management apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the list includes an
authorization operation column having an icon that is set
corresponding to each piece of authorization request information
and capable of being clicked or activated by the manual input.
[0013] In the authorization management apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the authorization management
unit is further configured to: when the authorization request
information of the personal mobile terminal corresponding to an
elevator in an elevator group is allowed to be authorized, allow
authorizing the personal mobile terminal to send an elevator
service request command to another elevator in the elevator
group.
[0014] In the authorization management apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the authorization request
information further includes identity credential information of a
passenger and/or a floor requested to be authorized.
[0015] According to a second aspect of the present invention, an
authorization management method for an elevator service request is
provided, comprising steps of: receiving authorization request
information from one or more personal mobile terminals; selecting
an authorization mode from at least two of the following three
authorization modes: (a) fully auto-allowed authorization or fully
auto-forbidden authorization, (b) auto-allowed authorization or
auto-forbidden authorization in batches, and (c) allowed
authorization or forbidden authorization fully based on manual
input; and determining, at least based on the selected
authorization mode, whether the authorization request information
from the personal mobile terminal is allowed to be authorized.
[0016] In the authorization management method according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the authorization request
information includes an elevator identifier of a corresponding
elevator of an elevator system acquired by the corresponding
personal mobile terminal and a terminal identifier of the personal
mobile terminal mapped to the elevator identifier.
[0017] In the authorization management method according to an
embodiment of the present invention, in the determination step, it
is determined at least also based on a mapping relationship between
the elevator identifier and the terminal identifier in the
authorization request information whether the authorization request
information from the corresponding personal mobile terminal is
allowed to be authorized.
[0018] In the authorization management method according to an
embodiment of the present invention, in the selection step, a
corresponding authorization mode is selected for different
elevators or different elevator systems or different elevator
groups.
[0019] In the authorization management method according to an
embodiment of the present invention, in the selection step, if the
elevator or elevator system or elevator group has no access
restriction, fully auto-allowed authorization in the authorization
mode (a) is selected; or if the elevator or elevator system or
elevator group has an access-forbidden restriction in a current
time period, fully auto-forbidden authorization in the
authorization mode (a) is selected.
[0020] In the authorization management method according to an
embodiment of the present invention, in the selection step, if the
elevator or elevator system or elevator group has no access
restriction for a predefined personal mobile terminal for which
authorization is allowed automatically, auto-allowed authorization
in batches in the authorization mode (b) is selected; or if the
elevator or elevator system or elevator group has an
access-forbidden restriction for a predefined personal mobile
terminal for which authorization is forbidden automatically,
auto-forbidden authorization in the authorization mode (b) is
selected.
[0021] In the authorization management method according to an
embodiment of the present invention, in the selection step, if the
elevator or elevator system or elevator group needs to have an
access restriction for each personal mobile terminal, the
authorization mode (c) is selected.
[0022] The authorization management method according to an
embodiment of the present invention, in the selection step, when
the authorization mode (b) is selected, a list of first terminal
identifiers of personal mobile terminals for allowing authorization
automatically in batches and/or a list of second terminal
identifiers of personal mobile terminals for forbidding
authorization automatically in batches are/is acquired.
[0023] In the authorization management method according to an
embodiment of the present invention, in the determination step,
multiple pieces of the authorization request information are
displayed in a list form when it is determined based on the
selected authorization mode (c) whether the authorization request
information is allowed to be authorized.
[0024] In the authorization management method according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the list includes an
authorization operation column having an icon that is set
corresponding to each piece of authorization request information
and capable of being clicked or activated by the manual input.
[0025] In the authorization management method according to an
embodiment of the present invention, after it is determined based
on the authorization mode (a) or the authorization mode (b) whether
the authorization request information is allowed to be authorized,
the selection step is continued to select the authorization mode
(c), and at least part of the authorization request information
determined based on the authorization mode (a) or the authorization
mode (b) is updated based on the authorization mode (c) to
determine whether the at least part of the authorization request
information is allowed to be authorized.
[0026] The authorization management method according to an
embodiment of the present invention further comprises a step of:
when the authorization request information of the personal mobile
terminal corresponding to an elevator in an elevator group is
allowed to be authorized, allowing authorizing the personal mobile
terminal to send an elevator service request command to another
elevator in the elevator group.
[0027] In the authorization management method according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the elevator identifier is a
QR code or barcode.
[0028] In the authorization management method according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the terminal identifier is a
communication number, a unique identification code of the personal
mobile terminal or an ID of a passenger using the personal mobile
terminal.
[0029] In the authorization management method according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the authorization request
information further includes identity credential information of a
passenger and/or a floor requested to be authorized.
[0030] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a
computer apparatus is provided, including a memory, a processor,
and a computer program stored in the memory and operable in the
processor, wherein when the program is executed by the processor,
the steps of the authorization management method according to any
of the foregoing aspects are implemented.
[0031] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a
computer readable storage medium is provided, storing a computer
program thereon, wherein the program is executed by a processor to
implement the steps of the authorization management method
according to any of the foregoing aspects.
[0032] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an
elevator management system is provided, for managing a personal
mobile terminal configured to send an elevator service request
command automatically, wherein the elevator management system
includes the authorization management apparatus according to any of
the foregoing aspects.
[0033] In the elevator management system according to an embodiment
of the present invention, the personal mobile terminal includes: an
acquiring unit configured to acquire an elevator identifier of a
corresponding elevator of an elevator system; and an authorization
request generating and sending unit configured to generate and send
authorization request information, wherein the authorization
request information includes the acquired elevator identifier and a
terminal identifier of the personal mobile terminal mapped to the
elevator identifier.
[0034] The above features and operations of the present invention
will become more evident according to the following descriptions
and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] The above and other objectives and advantages of the present
invention will become more complete and clearer from the following
detailed descriptions with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The same or similar elements are represented with the same
reference signs.
[0036] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an elevator management
system according to an embodiment of the present invention, in
which an authorization management apparatus for an elevator service
request according to an embodiment of the present invention is
used.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of
a personal mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0038] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an input interface of a
personal mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0039] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a selection interface of a
selecting unit of an authorization management apparatus according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an elevator system to which
a personal mobile terminal is applied according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an authorization management method
for an elevator service request according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0042] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an authorization management method
for an elevator service request according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0043] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an authorization management method
for an elevator service request according to another embodiment of
the present invention.
[0044] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an authorization management method
for an elevator service request according to yet another embodiment
of the present invention.
[0045] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an authorization management method
for an elevator service request according to still another
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0046] The present invention is now described more thoroughly with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary
embodiments of the present invention are shown. However, the
present invention can be implemented according to a number of
different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the
embodiments elaborated here. On the contrary, these embodiments are
provided to make the disclosure thorough and complete and to fully
convey the idea of the present invention to those skilled in the
art.
[0047] Some of the block diagrams shown in the accompanying
drawings are functional entities that do not necessarily correspond
to physically or logically independent entities. These functional
entities can be implemented in the form of software, or in one or
more hardware modules or integrated circuits, or in different
processing apparatuses and/or micro-controller apparatuses.
[0048] The applicant notes that the authorization for an elevator
service request needs to be improved as the existing authorization
process described in the Background is complex and inflexible, the
manager cannot manage the elevator system conveniently, cannot
operate easily and has a heavy workload, and the passenger
experience is relatively poor.
[0049] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an elevator management
system according to an embodiment of the present invention, in
which an authorization management apparatus for an elevator service
request according to an embodiment of the present invention is
used. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of a
personal mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an input interface of a
personal mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present
invention. An elevator management system 20, a personal mobile
terminal 200 and an authorization management apparatus 300
according to an embodiment of the present invention are illustrated
in detail below with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.
[0050] The elevator management system 20 according to the
embodiment of the present invention can manage elevator systems
mounted or operated in multiple buildings (such as a community),
for example, manage access of a passenger 90 to a corresponding
elevator system. It will be appreciated that in this application,
each elevator in each elevator system can be distinguished or
identified by a corresponding elevator identifier. For example, an
elevator 101a and an elevator 101b shown in FIG. 2 are Elevator A
and Elevator B in the 10th building of the community respectively,
and corresponding elevator identifiers 102a and 102b can be
assigned to the elevator 101a and elevator 101b by the manager
respectively. The elevator identifier 102 assigned to each elevator
can be stored uniformly in, for example, the authorization
management apparatus 300 of the elevator management system 20.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 2, the elevator identifier 102 assigned to
an elevator 101 may be a QR code that is easy to scan or another
identifier that is easy to acquire, such as a barcode. The elevator
identifier 102 may correspond to the corresponding elevator 101 and
be mounted next to the elevator 101 to facilitate scanning. It will
be appreciated that a mounting position of the elevator identifier
102 is not limited. In other embodiments, for example, the elevator
identifier 102 may also be presented on the network.
[0052] It will be appreciated that according to management
requirements, elevators in an elevator system can be grouped, or
elevators in multiple elevator systems in different buildings can
be grouped. As an example, elevators with the same passenger access
management can be classified into one group. Correspondingly, the
elevator identifier 102 may include group information, and thus an
elevator group to which the elevator 101 belongs can be obtained
based on the elevator identifier 102.
[0053] It should be noted that an elevator 101 mainly refers to
(e.g., one or more) elevator car(s) traveling on the same hoistway
section of a building.
[0054] The personal mobile terminal 200 can be various smart
terminals having a wireless communication function (such as a
Bluetooth communication function), which is convenient for the
passenger 90 to carry. The personal mobile terminal 200 can be
provided with a memory, a processor having a computing function,
and the like. Specifically, the personal mobile terminal 200 can be
a smart phone, a wearable smart device (such as a smart bracelet),
a personal digital assistant (PAD), etc., and can be installed with
a corresponding application program or component (such as an APP)
thereon to implement the elevator service request system according
to the embodiment of the present invention or its function.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 1, the personal mobile terminal 200 is
provided with a near field communication unit 210. Through the near
field communication unit 210, the personal mobile terminal 200 is
capable of automatically sensing a wireless signal (such as a first
wireless signal 123) broadcast by a wireless beacon (such as a
first wireless beacon 120 mounted in an elevator landing zone as
shown in FIG. 2) mounted in an elevator system 10 (as shown in FIG.
5). Moreover, the near field communication unit 210 can establish
corresponding wireless communication (such as a Bluetooth
connection) with the first wireless beacon 120 when a predetermined
condition is met, and thus can interact with the wireless beacon in
the elevator system, for example, send an elevator service request
command (such as an elevator service request command indicating an
elevator call).
[0056] In an embodiment, the personal mobile terminal 200 is
provided with an elevator service request unit 250. The elevator
service request unit 250 is configured to automatically send a
corresponding elevator service request command to the wireless
beacon in the elevator system 10 when a predetermined condition is
met (for example, when a signal strength value is greater than or
equal to a corresponding threshold), so that the passenger 90 can
complete, for example, an elevator call request free of
operation.
[0057] An elevator service request command generated by the
elevator service request unit 250 may include a starting floor, or
may include a starting floor and/or a destination floor. The
elevator service request command generated by the elevator service
request unit 250 may be sent through the near field communication
unit 210 to the wireless beacon (such as the first wireless beacon
120) that has established wireless communication with the near
field communication unit 210.
[0058] Based on the near field communication unit 210 and the
elevator service request unit 250, the passenger 90 can complete an
elevator service request operation automatically when carrying the
personal mobile terminal 200, thus having good passenger
experience.
[0059] However, for an elevator management system 20 or an elevator
manager, the permission to an elevator service request from a
personal mobile terminal 200 may be limited according to management
requirements. In other words, the authorization of the elevator
service request from the personal mobile terminal 200 needs to be
managed. For example, for a passenger 90 living on the 9th floor of
the 10th building in the community, his/her personal mobile
terminal 200 is only granted with an elevator service request
function of an elevator of the 10th building in the community, or
only granted with elevator service request functions of the 1st
floor and the 9th floor of the 10th building in the community.
[0060] Still as shown in FIG. 1, the personal mobile terminal 200
according to the embodiment of the present invention is capable of
generating corresponding authorization request information. To
enable the personal mobile terminal 200 to generate the
corresponding authorization request information conveniently, the
personal mobile terminal 200 is provided with an acquiring unit
220. The acquiring unit 220 is configured to acquire an elevator
identifier 102 of a corresponding elevator of an elevator system
10. In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, an elevator identifier
102 corresponding to each elevator 101 can be mounted next to the
elevator 101. When the passenger 90 is in an elevator landing zone,
the elevator identifier 102 of the elevator 101 can be conveniently
obtained by the personal mobile terminal 200. The acquiring unit
220 may specifically be an image acquiring device such as a camera.
As shown in FIG. 2, by scanning a QR code 102a of an elevator 101a
on site with the image acquiring device, the passenger 90 can
acquire the elevator identifier easily.
[0061] Still as shown in FIG. 1, in an embodiment, the personal
mobile terminal 200 is further provided with an input unit 230. The
input unit 230 can be configured to input at least information of a
floor requested to be authorized. As an example, after the scanning
and acquiring process as shown in FIG. 2 ends, an interface as
shown in FIG. 3, that is, the input unit 230, will be displayed on
the personal mobile terminal 200. For example, by sliding up and
down to select a floor, the information of the floor requested to
be authorized can be input conveniently. For example, it is assumed
that the passenger 90 checks into the 9th floor, and when
requesting authorization, the passenger 90 inputs the floor
information as shown in FIG. 2, that is, the 1st floor and 9th
floor (i.e., the floors requested to be authorized are the 1st
floor and 9th floor). It will be appreciated that the specific
input manner of the input unit 230 is not limited to the above
example, and the information of the floor requested to be
authorized may include more than two floors.
[0062] Other information that needs to be input, such as an ID
number used as identity credential information of the passenger 90,
can also be input through the input unit 230.
[0063] Still as shown in FIG. 1, in an embodiment, the personal
mobile terminal 200 is further provided with an authorization
request generating and sending unit 240. The authorization request
generating and sending unit 240 is configured to generate and send
authorization request information, wherein the authorization
request information includes the acquired elevator identifier 102
and a terminal identifier of the personal mobile terminal 200
mapped to the elevator identifier 102. The terminal identifier of
the personal mobile terminal 200 can identify the personal mobile
terminal 200, and thus can identify the passenger 90 who uses the
personal mobile terminal 200. The terminal identifier can be a
communication number (for example, a mobile phone number when the
personal mobile terminal 200 is a mobile phone), and the terminal
identifier can also be a unique identification code of the personal
mobile terminal 200, or even the ID of the passenger 90 who uses
the personal mobile terminal 200.
[0064] In an embodiment, the authorization request generating and
sending unit 240 is further configured to establish a mapping
relationship between the acquired elevator identifier 102 and the
terminal identifier of the personal mobile terminal 200 so that the
terminal identifier is mapped to the elevator identifier 102 or the
elevator identifier 102 is mapped to the terminal identifier. For
example, a mapping relationship is established between the elevator
identifier 102a acquired by scanning and the communication number
of the personal mobile terminal 200, so as to form the
corresponding authorization request information. It will be
appreciated that when the terminal identifier is mapped to the
elevator identifier 102, it also indicates that the elevator
identifier 102 is mapped to the terminal identifier, and a mapping
relationship is established between them to facilitate subsequent
authorization management.
[0065] In an embodiment, the generated authorization request
information may include a floor, requested to be authorized, input
in the input interface as shown in FIG. 3, and may further include
identity credential information of the passenger 90 (such as an ID
card or an employee's card). The identity credential information
can be pre-stored in the personal mobile terminal 200, and
definitely, can also be obtained through, for example, the input
unit 230 and/or the acquiring unit 220 in real time. The identity
credential information enables the manager to quickly determine
whether to allow authorization based on the authorization request
information.
[0066] The personal mobile terminal 200 may establish a
communication connection with the authorization management
apparatus 300 through various types of wireless networks, and thus
the authorization request generating and sending unit 240 of the
personal mobile terminal 200 can send the authorization request
information in real time to the authorization management apparatus
300 corresponding to the elevator system 10.
[0067] Still as shown in FIG. 1, the authorization management
apparatus 300 may be implemented by various types of computer
devices, which may be set in a building or remotely elsewhere, and
its location is not restricted. Authorization management of
multiple elevator systems can be achieved by one authorization
management apparatus 300. In an embodiment, the authorization
management apparatus 300 can be disposed in a property management
system of a building where the managed elevator system is located
to facilitate a property manager to implement authorization
management for an elevator service request.
[0068] The authorization management apparatus 300 may be provided
with a receiving unit 310. The receiving unit 310 is configured to
receive authorization request information from each personal mobile
terminal 200 (for example, the authorization request information is
transmitted through a communication connection established between
the personal mobile terminal 200 and the authorization management
apparatus 300), so that the authorization request information is
processed centrally in the authorization management apparatus
300.
[0069] Still as shown in FIG. 1, the authorization management
apparatus 300 is further provided with a selecting unit 320. The
selecting unit 320 is configured to select an authorization mode
from at least two of the following three authorization modes (for
example, select one authorization mode): (a) fully auto-allowed
authorization or fully auto-forbidden authorization, (b)
auto-allowed authorization or auto-forbidden authorization in
batches, and (c) allowed authorization or forbidden authorization
fully based on manual input.
[0070] Three authorization modes are listed on a selection
interface of the selecting unit 320 as shown in FIG. 4, "fully
auto-allowed authorization" at Level 1 corresponds to a specific
example of the above authorization mode (a), "auto-allowed
authorization in batches" at Level 2 corresponds to a specific
example of the above authorization mode (b), and "allowed
authorization based on manual input" at Level 3 corresponds to a
specific example of the above authorization mode (c). The manager
can select one authorization mode according to a prompt, for
example, the authorization mode (b) corresponding to Level 2 is
selected.
[0071] In an embodiment, the selecting unit 320 is further
configured to acquire a list of first terminal identifiers of
personal mobile terminals 200 for allowing authorization
automatically in batches and/or a list of second terminal
identifiers of personal mobile terminals 200 for forbidding
authorization automatically in batches when the authorization mode
(b) is selected. In the example as shown in FIG. 4, a list of first
terminal identifiers of personal mobile terminals 200 for partially
allowing authorization automatically in batches which is pre-stored
in the authorization management apparatus 300 can be browsed and
acquired from the authorization management apparatus 300.
Specifically, terminal identifiers (such as communication numbers)
of personal mobile terminals 200 that have no access restriction
to, for example, the elevator 101a or all the elevators are listed
in the list of first terminal identifiers. As such, all
authorization request information of the terminal identifiers
corresponding to the terminal identifiers in the list of first
terminal identifiers can be allowed to be authorized in batches in
the authorization management unit 330. A similar exemplary
operation can be performed for the list of second terminal
identifiers.
[0072] It will be appreciated that in another alternative
embodiment, the selection interface of the selecting unit 320 can
also list the following combinations of authorization modes:
authorization mode (a) and authorization mode (b); authorization
mode (b) and authorization mode (c); or authorization mode (a) and
authorization mode (c). The selecting unit 320 can select one of
the above combinations of authorization modes based on the input of
the manager.
[0073] The setting of the selecting unit 320 fully takes into
account the diversity and complexity of access of a large number of
passengers 90 to corresponding elevators. It combines the
convenience and simplicity of auto-allowed authorization in the
authorization mode (a) or (b) and the strictness of authorization
management in the authorization mode (b) or (c). The manager can
select an authorization mode flexibly according to a specific
situation. For example, the manager selects different authorization
modes for authorization request information of different elevators,
selects different authorization modes for authorization request
information in different time periods of the same elevator, selects
different authorization modes for authorization request information
of different floors of the same elevator, and so on. Thus, the
authorization of the authorization request information by the
manager is much more flexible, which brings convenience to the
manager.
[0074] In an embodiment, the selecting unit 320 is further
configured to select a corresponding authorization mode for
different elevators or different elevator systems or different
elevator groups. For example, the authorization mode (a) is
selected corresponding to authorization request information of
elevators in a predefined elevator group M, the authorization mode
(b) is selected corresponding to authorization request information
of elevators in a predefined elevator group N, and the
authorization mode (c) is selected corresponding to authorization
request information of elevators in a predefined elevator group
F.
[0075] In an embodiment, the selecting unit 320 is further
configured to be capable of inputting a time limit of the selected
authorization mode, that is, a time limit of the selected
authorization mode can be set by the selecting unit 320. As an
example, as shown in FIG. 4, "time for auto-allowed authorization"
in the authorization mode at "Level 2" selected is set to 3
months.
[0076] Still as shown in FIG. 1, the authorization management
apparatus 300 is further provided with an authorization management
unit 330. The authorization management unit 330 determines, at
least based on the selected authorization mode, whether the
authorization request information from the personal mobile terminal
is allowed to be authorized. As an example, if the selecting unit
320 selects the authorization mode (a), the authorization
management unit 330 determines, at least based on the selected
authorization mode (a), that authorization request information from
the personal mobile terminals 200 is fully automatically allowed to
be authorized/forbidden to be authorized. If the selecting unit 320
selects the authorization mode (b), the authorization management
unit 330 determines, at least based on the selected authorization
mode (b), that authorization request information corresponding to
some personal mobile terminals 200 and/or elevators 101 is
automatically allowed to be authorized/forbidden to be authorized
in batches. If the selecting unit 320 selects the authorization
mode (c), the authorization management unit 330 manually determines
one by one, at least based on the selected authorization mode (c),
that each piece of authorization request information is allowed to
be authorized or forbidden to be authorized.
[0077] In an embodiment, if the authorization request information
is from the personal mobile terminal 200 in the embodiment as shown
in FIG. 1 and each piece of authorization request information
includes an elevator identifier acquired by the personal mobile
terminal 200 and a terminal identifier of the personal mobile
terminal 200 mapped to the elevator identifier, the authorization
management unit 330 can be further configured to determine, at
least according to a mapping relationship between the elevator
identifier 102 and the terminal identifier of the personal mobile
terminal 200 in the authorization request information, whether the
authorization request information from the corresponding personal
mobile terminal 200 is allowed to be authorized.
[0078] In an embodiment, as shown in the following Table 1, the
authorization management unit 330 is further configured to display
multiple pieces of the authorization request information in a list
form as shown in Table 1. As such, it is convenient for the manager
to master the authorization request information and perform the
authorization operation manually.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Floors Elevator requested to be Terminal
Authorization identifier authorized identifier Request time
operation 10-A 1 9 130XXXX 2017 Oct. 31 XXXX 10-B B1 9 131XXXX 2017
Oct. 31 XXXX 01-C 9 1 132XXXX 2017 Oct. 31 XXXX 20-D 1 12 133XXXX
2017 Oct. 30 XXXX 20-A 7 11 134XXXX 2017 Oct. 29 XXXX
[0079] As shown in Table 1, the "elevator identifier" and the
"terminal identifier" of the authorization request information
correspond to or are mapped to each other in the same row, and the
authorization request information also includes items such as
"Floors requested to be authorized" and "request time," which are
presented in the form of a list. Taking the first row as an
example, 10-A refers to Elevator No. A in the 10th building of a
community; it is another manifestation of the QR code 102a of the
elevator 101a as shown in FIG. 2, and can be read by the manager
conveniently. "1 9" represents input floors requested to be
authorized as shown in FIG. 3, that is, the 1st floor and 9th
floor; "130XXXXXXXX" is a communication number of the personal
mobile terminal 200 that scans the QR code 102a, and represents a
terminal identifier; "2017-10-31" represents a request time.
[0080] It should be noted that the arrangement form of the
authorization request information in the list is not limited to the
example shown in Table 1. For example, the authorization request
information can be arranged to according to a chronological order
of the request time. Authorization request information
corresponding to the same elevator system or the same elevator can
be classified and arranged together, or the authorization request
information can be classified and arranged according to terminal
identifiers and floors requested to be authorized.
[0081] Still as shown in Table 1, the authorization management unit
330 is configured to display multiple pieces of the authorization
request information in a list form (for example, the form shown in
Table 1) when determining based on the selected authorization mode
(c) whether the authorization request information is allowed to be
authorized. The list is further provided with an "authorization
operation" column. The authorization operation column has icons
(for example, "" and "") that are set corresponding to each piece
of authorization request information and capable of being clicked
or activated by the manual input. By operating on the authorization
operation column, the manager can determine whether to allow
authorizing the authorization request information in the
corresponding row. For example, when the manager clicks or
activates "," it indicates that the authorization request
information is allowed to be authorized; when the manager clicks or
activates "," it indicates that the authorization request
information is not authorized, that is, the current request of the
personal mobile terminal 200 is not authorized.
[0082] It should be noted that when the selecting unit 320 selects
the authorization mode (a) or (b), the authorization management
unit 330 can display multiple pieces of the authorization request
information in a list form as shown in Table 1. Thus, the manager
can conveniently view the authorization request information that is
automatically allowed to be authorized/forbidden to be authorized.
However, the authorization operation column for manual
authorization may not be set in Table 1.
[0083] In an embodiment, after it is determined based on the
authorization mode (a) or the authorization mode (b) whether the
authorization request information is allowed to be authorized, if
needing to manually verify or update the authorization request
information for which it has been determined whether authorization
is allowed, the manager can continue the selection step by using
the selecting unit 320 as shown in FIG. 4 to select the
authorization mode (c) and manually update, based on the
authorization mode (c), at least part of the authorization request
information determined based on the authorization mode (a) or the
authorization mode (b) to determine whether the at least part of
the authorization request information is allowed to be
authorized.
[0084] Still as shown in FIG. 1, after the authorization operation
is completed in the authorization management apparatus 300, the
authorization management apparatus 300 will return an
"authorization result" to the personal mobile terminal 200, for
example, authorization allowed or authorization forbidden. The
personal mobile terminal 200 can display the authorization
result.
[0085] As an example, if the authorization request information in
the first row of Table 1 sent by the personal mobile terminal 200
is allowed to be authorized, the personal mobile terminal 200 will
obtain a permission of automatically requesting an elevator service
on the 1st floor and the 9th floor of the elevator 101a. For
example, the personal mobile terminal 200 can automatically send an
elevator service request command indicating an elevator call
operation.
[0086] It will be appreciated that if the authorization request
information does not include a floor requested to be authorized,
the personal mobile terminal 200 will obtain a permission of
requesting an elevator service on each floor of the elevator
101a.
[0087] In an embodiment, in a situation where the elevators 101 are
classified into elevator groups according to the above example and
authorization request information of a personal mobile terminal 200
corresponding to an elevator in an elevator group is allowed to be
authorized, the personal mobile terminal 200 can be authorized to
send an elevator service request command to another elevator in the
elevator group. In other words, an "authorization result" of
authorization request information of a personal mobile terminal 200
corresponding to an elevator in an elevator group can be shared and
applied to another elevator in the elevator group. As an example,
if the personal mobile terminal 200 obtains a permission of
automatically requesting an elevator service in the elevator 101a,
the personal mobile terminal 200 will automatically obtain,
according to a group relationship between the elevator 101a and the
elevator 101b as shown in FIG. 2, a permission of automatically
requesting an elevator service in the elevator 101b.
[0088] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an elevator system to which
a personal mobile terminal is applied according to an embodiment of
the present invention. The personal mobile terminal 200 is further
configured to be capable of automatically sending an elevator
service request command to a corresponding elevator of the elevator
system 10 if the authorization request information is allowed to be
authorized. In other words, the authorized personal mobile terminal
200 can automatically complete an elevator service request in the
elevator system 10 in the example as shown in FIG. 5.
[0089] As shown in FIG. 5, the elevator system 10 can be mounted in
various buildings. The elevator system 10 includes multiple
elevator cars 110 that travel up and down in hoistways of a
building. FIG. 1 shows two elevator cars, that is, elevator cars
110-1 and 110-2. Each elevator car 110 is under control (such as
scheduling control or travel control) of an elevator controller 140
in the elevator system 10 to travel in the hoistway or stop at a
corresponding landing. Generally, the elevator controller 140 needs
to acquire an elevator service request command (such as an elevator
service request command indicating an elevator call request, that
is, an elevator call request command) from an elevator landing zone
410 on each floor, thus controlling operation of the elevator based
on the command, for example, controlling scheduling of each
elevator car 110. It will be appreciated that a specific manner or
principle in which the elevator controller 140 controls one or more
elevator cars 110 is not limited, and the specific structure,
arrangement form and the like of the elevator controller 140 are
not limited either.
[0090] To acquire the elevator call request command from each
elevator landing zone 410, the elevator system 10 is provided with
a first wireless beacon 120. The first wireless beacon 120 can be
mounted in various elevator landing zones 410 of the elevator
system 10 (as shown in FIG. 2). For example, at least one first
wireless beacon 120 is mounted in an elevator landing zone of each
floor, so that a first wireless signal 123 sent or broadcast by the
first wireless beacon 120 can substantially cover each elevator
landing zone effectively, thus forming a corresponding
coverage.
[0091] Still as shown in FIG. 5, in an embodiment, the automatic
elevator call system 20 of the elevator system 10 can be further
provided with one or more second wireless beacons 130 (such as
second wireless beacons 130-1 and 130-2). Each second wireless
beacon 130 is mounted in a corresponding elevator car 110. For
example, the elevator car 110-1 is provided with a second wireless
beacon 130-1, and the elevator car 110-2 is provided with a second
wireless beacon 130-2. In an embodiment, the second wireless beacon
is mounted on a destination floor registration control panel in the
elevator car 110 and integrated onto the destination floor
registration control panel. The mounting manner of the second
wireless beacon 130 relative to the elevator car 110 is not limited
to the above example.
[0092] The second wireless beacon 130 can transmit or broadcast a
second wireless signal 133, for example, continuously (e.g., at
relatively short intervals) broadcast the second wireless signal
133. The signal strength of the broadcast second wireless signal
133 attenuates with its propagation distance. The second wireless
signal 133 broadcast by the second wireless beacon 130 can
substantially effectively cover an area in the elevator car 110
where the second wireless beacon 130 is mounted, thus forming a
corresponding coverage.
[0093] It should be noted that the second wireless beacon 130 is
coupled to the elevator controller 140. Therefore, during the
operation of each elevator car 110, the second wireless beacon 130
can acquire desired information, such as current floor information
and travel direction information of the elevator car 110, from the
elevator controller 140 in real time and package the floor
information and/or the travel direction information (the travel
direction information includes, for example, "travel up," "travel
down" and "halt") into a Bluetooth data signal to be broadcast as a
second wireless signal.
[0094] In an embodiment, the first wireless beacon 120 and/or the
second wireless beacon 130 may be a Bluetooth module, which may
specifically be a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) module.
Correspondingly, the first wireless signal 123 transmitted or
broadcast by the first wireless beacons 120 and/or the second
wireless signal 133 transmitted or broadcast by the second wireless
beacons 130 may be a Bluetooth signal (such as a BLE signal).
[0095] In an embodiment, the first wireless signal 123 (such as a
BLE signal) may include a wakeup signal for waking up the personal
mobile terminal 200. The personal mobile terminal 200 sensing the
wakeup signal may wake up a corresponding application component
(such as an automatic elevator call APP) of the personal mobile
terminal 200 to work. Specifically, the first wireless signal 123
may further include a Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) that
reflects the identity of the first wireless beacon 120, and/or a
data signal indicating location information of a floor on which the
first wireless beacon 120 is located, and the second wireless
signal 133 may further include a Universally Unique Identifier
(UUID) that reflects the identity of the second wireless beacon
130, and/or a data signal indicating location information of a
current floor on which the second wireless beacon 130 is
located.
[0096] Still as shown in FIG. 5, the elevator system 10 may include
personal mobile terminals 200 carried by passengers 90, for
example, personal mobile terminals 200-1 and 200-2 carried by two
passengers respectively. Each personal mobile terminal 200 is
configured to be capable of sensing the wireless signals broadcast
by the wireless beacons in the elevator system 10 when a distance
condition is met, for example, sensing the first wireless signal
123 broadcast by the first wireless beacon 120 and sensing the
second wireless signal 133 broadcast by the second wireless beacon
130. Moreover, in an embodiment, each authorized personal mobile
terminal 200 can automatically send corresponding elevator service
request commands to the wireless beacons in the elevator system 10
when a corresponding condition is met, for example, send an
elevator service request command indicating an elevator call to the
first wireless beacon 120 and send an elevator service request
command indicating a destination floor to the second wireless
beacon 130.
[0097] The personal mobile terminal 200 in the above embodiments
can easily acquire an elevator identifier and mapping data between
the elevator identifier and a terminal identifier, and generate and
send authorization request information conveniently.
Correspondingly, the authorization management apparatus 300 can
conveniently obtain the mapping data between the elevator
identifier and the terminal identifier from the authorization
request information, so that it is easy to know which elevator
should authorize which passenger, thus realizing access management
of the elevator system easily, and authorization operations can
also be displayed easily. In particular, the elevator management
system 20 in the above examples does not need to authorize and
manage each passenger 90 face to face, and the entire authorization
request process and the authorization management process are fast,
convenient and efficient.
[0098] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an authorization management method
for an elevator service request according to an embodiment of the
present invention. The authorization management method shown in
FIG. 6 is mainly completed in the personal mobile terminal 200 as
shown in FIG. 1. The authorization management method is illustrated
below with reference to FIGS. 1-3 and FIG. 6.
[0099] In step S610, an elevator identifier of a corresponding
elevator in an elevator system is acquired. In a scenario as shown
in FIG. 2, if a passenger 90 wants to get access to an elevator
101a, that is, obtain the authorization of sending an elevator
service request command to the elevator 101a, the passenger 90 can
scan a QR code 102a, that is, an elevator identifier 102a, of the
elevator 101a by using an acquiring unit 220 of the personal mobile
terminal 200, thus acquiring the elevator identifier of the
elevator 101a. Other related information of the elevator 101a can
also be obtained.
[0100] In step S620, a mapping relationship is established, and
authorization request information is generated. In this step, as
the terminal identifier of the personal mobile terminal 200 is
known to or pre-stored in the personal mobile terminal 200, a
mapping relationship between the terminal identifier and the
elevator identifier of the elevator 101a can be established to form
mapping data after the elevator identifier of the elevator 101a is
acquired. That is, the terminal identifier is mapped to the
elevator identifier 102a or the elevator identifier 102a is mapped
to the terminal identifier. Further, authorization request
information including the mapping relationship is generated. The
authorization request information includes, for example, the
elevator identifier 102a, the terminal identifier as well as the
mapping relationship between them. In other embodiments, the
authorization request information can further include identity
credential information (such as an ID card image required in the
authorization verification process) of a passenger 90 and/or a
floor requested to be authorized (such as information of multiple
floors input in FIG. 3).
[0101] In step S630, the authorization request information is sent.
In this step, the authorization request information generated by
the personal mobile terminal 200 can be remotely sent to the
authorization management apparatus 300.
[0102] The above steps S610 to S630 illustrate the main process of
one authorization request. By repeating the above steps S610 to
S630, multiple authorization requests can be completed, for
example, an authorization request for different floors of the same
elevator, an authorization request for different elevators, and
even an authorization request for different time periods of the
same elevator (for example, an authorization request is made again
after the authorization expires). It will be appreciated that the
entire authorization request process is simple and convenient, and
is conducive to improving passenger experience.
[0103] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an authorization management method
for an elevator service request according to an embodiment of the
present invention. The authorization management method shown in
FIG. 7 is mainly completed in the authorization management
apparatus 300 as shown in FIG. 1. The authorization management
method is illustrated below with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG.
7.
[0104] In step S710, authorization request information from one or
more personal mobile terminals 200 is received.
[0105] In step S720, an authorization mode is selected.
[0106] In an embodiment, an authorization mode is selected from at
least two of the following three authorization modes (for example,
one authorization mode is selected): (a) fully auto-allowed
authorization or fully auto-forbidden authorization, (b)
auto-allowed authorization or auto-forbidden authorization in
batches, and (c) allowed authorization or forbidden authorization
fully based on manual input.
[0107] Three authorization modes are listed on a selection
interface of the selecting unit 320 as shown in FIG. 4, "fully
auto-allowed authorization" at Level 1 corresponds to a specific
example of the above authorization mode (a), "auto-allowed
authorization in batches" at Level 2 corresponds to a specific
example of the above authorization mode (b), and "allowed
authorization based on manual input" at Level 3 corresponds to a
specific example of the above authorization mode (c). A manager can
select one authorization mode according to a prompt, for example,
the authorization mode (b) corresponding to Level 2 is
selected.
[0108] It will be appreciated that in another alternative
embodiment, the selection interface can also list the following
combinations of authorization modes: authorization mode (a) and
authorization mode (b); authorization mode (b) and authorization
mode (c); or authorization mode (a) and authorization mode (c). The
selecting unit 320 can select one of the above combinations of
authorization modes based on the input of the manager.
[0109] At the time of selection, if the elevator or elevator system
or elevator group has no access restriction, fully auto-allowed
authorization in the authorization mode (a) can be selected; or if
the elevator or elevator system or elevator group has an
access-forbidden restriction in a current time period, fully
auto-forbidden authorization in the authorization mode (a) can be
selected.
[0110] At the time of selection, if the elevator or elevator system
or elevator group has no access restriction for a predefined
personal mobile terminal for which authorization is allowed
automatically, auto-allowed authorization in batches in the
authorization mode (b) can be selected; or if the elevator or
elevator system or elevator group has an access-forbidden
restriction for a predefined personal mobile terminal for which
authorization is forbidden automatically, auto-forbidden
authorization in the authorization mode (b) can be selected.
[0111] At the time of selection, if the elevator or elevator system
or elevator group needs to have an access restriction to each
personal mobile terminal, the authorization mode (c) can be
selected.
[0112] In an embodiment, when the authorization mode (b) is
selected, a list of first terminal identifiers of personal mobile
terminals 200 for allowing authorization automatically in batches
and/or a list of second terminal identifiers of personal mobile
terminals 200 for forbidding authorization automatically in batches
are/is further acquired. In the example as shown in FIG. 4, a list
of first terminal identifiers of personal mobile terminals 200 for
allowing authorization automatically in batches that is pre-stored
in the authorization management apparatus 300 can be browsed and
acquired from the authorization management apparatus 300.
Specifically, terminal identifiers (such as communication numbers)
of personal mobile terminals 200 that have no access restriction
to, for example, the elevator 101a or all the elevators are listed
in the list of first terminal identifiers. As such, all
authorization request information of the terminal identifiers
corresponding to the terminal identifiers in the list of first
terminal identifiers can be allowed to be authorized in batches in
the authorization management unit 330. A similar exemplary
operation can also be performed for the list of second terminal
identifiers.
[0113] It will be appreciated that the remaining authorization
request information not processed in the authorization mode (b) can
be manually processed in the authorization mode (c).
[0114] In an embodiment, a corresponding authorization mode is
selected for different elevators or different elevator systems or
different elevator groups. For example, the authorization mode (a)
is selected corresponding to authorization request information of
elevators in a predefined elevator group M, the authorization mode
(b) is selected corresponding to authorization request information
of elevators in a predefined elevator group N, and the
authorization mode (c) is selected corresponding to authorization
request information of elevators in a predefined elevator group
F.
[0115] In an embodiment, a time limit of the selected authorization
mode is further input in the selection step, that is, a time limit
of the selected authorization mode can be set. As an example, as
shown in FIG. 4, "time for auto-allowed authorization" in the
authorization mode at "Level 2" selected is set to 3 months.
[0116] In step S730, it is determined based on the selected
authorization mode whether authorization request information from
the personal mobile terminal is allowed to be authorized. As an
example, if the authorization mode (a) is selected, it is
determined at least based on the selected authorization mode (a)
that authorization request information from the personal mobile
terminals 200 is fully automatically allowed to be
authorized/forbidden to be authorized. If the authorization mode
(b) is selected, it is determined at least based on the selected
authorization mode (b) that authorization request information
corresponding to some personal mobile terminals 200 and/or
elevators 101 is automatically allowed to be authorized/forbidden
to be authorized in batches. If the authorization mode (c) is
selected, it is manually determined one by one, at least based on
the selected authorization mode (c), that each piece of
authorization request information is allowed to be authorized or
forbidden to be authorized. For example, by operating on the
"authorization operation" column shown in Table 1, the manager can
determine whether to allow authorizing the authorization request
information in the corresponding row. When the manager clicks or
activates "," it indicates that the authorization request
information is allowed to be authorized; when the manager clicks or
activates "" it indicates that the authorization request
information is not authorized.
[0117] In step S730, the authorization operation based on the
selected authorization mode can be continued within the time limit
of the currently selected authorization mode. If the time limit
expires, step S740 can be performed to judge whether the
authorization mode needs to be switched. If the judgment is result
is "yes," step S720 is performed again. If the judgment is "no,"
the authorization operation is continued based on the authorization
mode in step S730. Of course, according to a specific situation,
the manager can also actively trigger step S740 to re-select an
authorization mode.
[0118] It should be noted that in an embodiment, after it is
determined based on the authorization mode (a) or authorization
mode (b) whether the authorization request information is allowed
to be authorized in step S730, if the selection step S720 is
continued to select the authorization mode (c), and at least part
of the authorization request information determined based on the
authorization mode (a) or the authorization mode (b) is manually
updated based on the selected authorization mode (c) to determine
whether the at least part of the authorization request information
is allowed to be authorized, that is, step S730 is performed by
changing the authorization mode to the authorization mode (c).
[0119] So far, the process of the authorization management method
illustrated above has basically ended. It will be appreciated that
due to the introduction of the selection step into the
authorization management method for an elevator service request,
the manager can select an authorization mode flexibly according to
a specific situation. For example, the manager can select different
authorization modes for authorization request information of
different elevators, select different authorization modes for
authorization request information in different time periods of the
same elevator, select different authorization modes for
authorization request information of different floors of the same
elevator, and so on. Thus, the authorization of authorization
request information by manager is much more flexible, which brings
convenience to the manager.
[0120] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an authorization management method
for an elevator service request according to another embodiment of
the present invention. The authorization management method shown in
FIG. 8 is mainly completed in the authorization management
apparatus 300 as shown in FIG. 1. The authorization management
method is illustrated below with reference to Table 1 and FIG.
8.
[0121] In step S810, authorization request information from one or
more personal mobile terminals 200 is received.
[0122] In step S820, the authorization request information is
displayed in a list. For example, multiple pieces of the
authorization request information are displayed in a list form
shown in Table 1 above. A mapping relationship between an elevator
identifier and a terminal identifier will also be directly
presented to a manager. The manager can easily perform an
authorization operation according to existing information.
[0123] In step S830, it is determined whether authorization request
information from a corresponding personal mobile terminal is
allowed to be authorized. In this step, each piece of authorization
request information is manually authorized one by one based on the
selected authorization mode (c), that is, allowed authorization or
forbidden authorization fully based on manual input. For example,
by operating on the "authorization operation" column shown in Table
1, the manager can determine whether to allow authorizing the
authorization request information in the corresponding row. When
the manager clicks or activates "," it indicates that the
authorization request information is allowed to be authorized; when
the manager clicks or activates "," indicates that the
authorization request information is not authorized.
[0124] In an embodiment, in this step, it is determined at least
based on a mapping relationship between the elevator identifier and
the terminal identifier in the authorization request information
whether the authorization request information from the
corresponding personal mobile terminal is allowed to be authorized.
As an example, in the first row as shown in Table 1, it can be
determined, according to information about the terminal identifier
200 which is stored in the authorization management apparatus 300,
whether an elevator service request for the elevator identifier
"10-A" corresponding to the terminal identifier 200 is allowed to
be authorized. If authorization is allowed, "" in the
"authorization operation" column is activated. If authorization is
not allowed, "" in the "authorization operation" column is
activated.
[0125] In step S840, an authorization result is returned to the
corresponding personal mobile terminal 200.
[0126] So far, the process of the authorization management method
completed based on manual input of the manager has basically
ended.
[0127] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an authorization management method
for an elevator service request according to yet another embodiment
of the present invention. The authorization management method shown
in FIG. 9 is mainly completed in the authorization management
apparatus 300 as shown in FIG. 1. The authorization management
method is illustrated below with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.
9.
[0128] In step S910, authorization request information from one or
more personal mobile terminals 200 is received.
[0129] In step S920, the authorization request information is
displayed in a list. For example, multiple pieces of the
authorization request information are displayed in a list form
shown in Table 1 above. A mapping relationship between an elevator
identifier and a terminal identifier will also be directly
presented to a manager. In another embodiment, the authorization
request information may not be displayed according to a specific
situation.
[0130] In step S930, it is fully automatically determined based on
the authorization mode (a) whether the authorization request
information from the personal mobile terminal is allowed to be
authorized. In this step, all the authorization request information
is authorized automatically based on the selected authorization
mode (a), that is, fully auto-allowed authorization or fully
auto-forbidden. For example, all the authorization request
information is automatically allowed to be authorized, or all the
authorization request information is automatically forbidden to be
authorized.
[0131] In step S940, an authorization result is returned to the
corresponding personal mobile terminal 200.
[0132] So far, the process of completing the authorization
management method fully automatically without relying on a manager
has basically ended.
[0133] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an authorization management method
for an elevator service request according to still another
embodiment of the present invention. The authorization management
method shown in FIG. 10 is mainly completed in the authorization
management apparatus 300 as shown in FIG. 1. The authorization
management method is illustrated below with reference to FIG. 1 and
FIG. 10.
[0134] In step S1010, authorization request information from one or
more personal mobile terminals 200 is received.
[0135] In step S1020, the authorization request information is
displayed in a list. For example, multiple pieces of the
authorization request information are displayed in a list form. A
mapping relationship between an elevator identifier and a terminal
identifier will also be directly presented to a manager. In another
embodiment, the authorization request information may not be
displayed according to a specific situation.
[0136] In step S1030, it is determined fully automatically based on
the authorization mode (b) whether the authorization request
information from the personal mobile terminal is allowed to be
authorized. In this step, the authorization request information is
authorized automatically in batches based on the selected
authorization mode (b), that is, auto-allowed authorization in
batches or auto-forbidden authorization. For example, all the
authorization request information is automatically allowed to be
authorized, or all the authorization request information is
automatically forbidden to be authorized.
[0137] In an embodiment, a list of first terminal identifiers of
personal mobile terminals 200 for allowing authorization
automatically in batches and/or a list of second terminal
identifiers of personal mobile terminals 200 for forbidding
authorization automatically in batches are/is acquired. In the
example as shown in FIG. 4, a list of first terminal identifiers of
personal mobile terminals 200 for allowing authorization
automatically in batches that is pre-stored in the authorization
management apparatus 300 can be browsed and acquired from the
authorization management apparatus 300. Specifically, terminal
identifiers (such as communication numbers) of personal mobile
terminals 200 that have no access restriction to, for example, the
elevator 101a or all the elevators are listed in the list of first
terminal identifiers. As such, all authorization request
information of the terminal identifiers corresponding to the
terminal identifiers in the list of first terminal identifiers can
be allowed to be authorized in batches in the authorization
determining process. A similar exemplary operation can also be
performed for the list of second terminal identifiers.
[0138] In step S1040, an authorization result is returned to the
corresponding personal mobile terminal 200.
[0139] So far, the process of completing the authorization
management method automatically in batches has basically ended.
[0140] It should be noted that at least two processes of the
methods shown in FIG. 8 to FIG. 10 above can be carried out in the
same authorization management apparatus 300. For example, the
authorization management apparatus 300 manages authorization
request information corresponding to Elevator A, Elevator B and
Elevator C. The authorization mode (c) is selected for the Elevator
A and authorization management for the authorization request
information is completed based on the authorization management
method shown in FIG. 8. The authorization mode (a) is selected for
the Elevator B and authorization management for the authorization
request information is completed based on the authorization
management method shown in FIG. 9. The authorization mode (b) is
selected for the Elevator C and authorization management for the
authorization request information is completed based on the
authorization management method shown in FIG. 10.
[0141] It will be appreciated that the authorization request
information processed in the authorization management apparatus 300
and/or the authorization management method illustrated above is not
limited to the aforementioned authorization request information
which includes an acquired elevator identifier and a terminal
identifier of a personal mobile terminal mapped to the elevator
identifier and may also be other types of authorization request
information.
[0142] It should be noted that the personal mobile terminal 200
according to the above embodiments of the present invention can be
implemented by using computer program instructions, e.g.,
implemented by a special APP. These computer program instructions
may be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a
special-purpose computer, or another programmable data processing
device to form the personal mobile terminal 200 according to the
embodiments of the present invention. Moreover, units or components
for implementing functions/operations designated in the flowcharts
and/or blocks and/or one or more flowchart blocks can be created
with the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or
another programmable data processing device.
[0143] It should be noted that the authorization management
apparatus 300 according to the above embodiments of the present
invention can be implemented by using computer program
instructions, for example, implemented by a special computer
program, and these computer program instructions can be provided to
a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose
computer, or another programmable data processing device to form
the authorization management apparatus 300 according to the
embodiments of the present invention. Moreover, units or components
for implementing functions/operations designated in the flowcharts
and/or blocks and/or one or more flowchart blocks can be created
with the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or
another programmable data processing device.
[0144] Besides, these computer program instructions may be stored
in a computer readable memory. These instructions can instruct the
computer or another programmable processor to implement the
functions in specific manners, such that these instructions stored
in the computer readable memory construct a product including
instruction components for implementing functions/operations
designated in one or more blocks of the flowcharts and/or block
diagrams.
[0145] It should be further noted that in some alternative
implementations, the functions/operations shown in the blocks may
not take place according to the sequence shown in the flowchart.
For example, two blocks shown sequentially may be performed
substantially at the same time, or these blocks sometimes may be
performed in a reversed order, which specifically depends on the
functions/operations involved.
[0146] It should be noted that elements (including the flowcharts
and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings) disclosed and
depicted in this text refer to logic boundaries between elements.
However, according to software or hardware engineering practices,
the depicted elements and functions thereof can be executed on a
machine by a computer executable medium. The computer executable
medium has a processor that can execute a program instruction
stored thereon. The program instruction serves as a single-chip
software structure, an independent software module, or a module
using an external program, code, service or the like, or any
combination thereof. Moreover, all these execution solutions may
fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0147] Although different non-limitative implementation solutions
have components that are specifically illustrated, the
implementation solutions of the present invention are not limited
to these specific combinations. Some of the components or features
from any non-limitative implementation solution may be combined
with features or components from any other non-limitative
implementation solution.
[0148] Although specific step sequences are shown, disclosed and
required, it should be understood that the steps may be implemented
in any sequence, separated, or combined, and they will still
benefit from the present disclosure unless otherwise specified.
[0149] The foregoing descriptions are exemplary and are not defined
to be limitative. Various non-limitative implementation solutions
are disclosed in this text; however, according to the foregoing
teachings, those of ordinary skill in the art will be aware that
various modifications and variations shall fall within the scope of
the appended claims. Therefore, it should be understood that
disclosure content other than those specifically disclosed can be
implemented within the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the
appended claims should be read up to determine the actual scope and
content.
* * * * *